Lekagar, the Black River

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The Lekagar, which literally means Black River (Lek - Black, Agar - River) is a large river that runs through the eastern portion of the Kenerif Continent. It has its sources in the mountains of the Ancestor Desert and empties into the The Sunken Lands at the Void Lagoon. Throughout most of history, the river was a major border between two major powers until they merged into the single nation that makes up modern day Vefaria.

The Lekagar is host to numerous plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to the river system. The river system runs through several different biomes from high mountains and grasslands, to low lying swamps and forests, to coastal marshlands. The black color of the water is due to the high concentrations of tannic acid from the plants growing near the river, giving the water a permanently darkened appearance through nearly its entire length. This water empties into the Void Lagoon, which also gets its name from the blackened waters.

Length: 1,496 km
Watershed area: 189,469 km²
Elevation Range: 1,483m to Sea Level
Outflow: 8,000m³/s
Average Depth: 15m
Source: Crystal Highsands
Mouth: Void Lagoon

Notable Settlements:

Barun Deth

Alma-Wreth

Vorem-Wreth (Ruins)

Viralm (Ruins)

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Map

Lekagar Map

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NOTE: Map Contains 5 Layers.

River Course

Crystal Source

The River's main source lay in Halana's Glacier. The melt water flows into cracks in the ground, into the Lureshei Neron, or Crystal Caverns. These caverns form one of the only exit points for water leaving the Crystal Highsands, a large endorheic basin that is entirely a desert. In ancient times this desert was an inland sea, but nearly all of the water has evaporated away or drained to lower elevations. Due to the mineral content of the water and the high temperature in the caverns, large clear crystals line the walls and ceiling.

Crystal Valley

On leaving the cavern, the river flows quickly through the Crystal Valley, a large grassland that has large quartz everywhere underground. The most important city here is Alma-Wreth, a large town that has several operational mines in the area. The crystals mined from this area are critical for many sensitive electronic components. As many wars have been fought for control of Alma-Wreth as have been fought for control of the city of Vorem-Wreth at the mouth of the river.

Plains of Serenity

After running through some thin valleys, the majority of the river's course is through flat plains. The river is wide and flows slowly here. Thick forests grow all over and only the smallest hints of former Regalti civilization can be seen, usually the overgrown ruins of old factory cities, but also several large orchards of Veil Trees and similar plants. This part of the river used to be a major industrial area, one of the largest on the Planet Collena, but it has mostly returned to nature in the last few hundred years.

Void Lagoon

Near the mouth of the river is the Void Lagoon, itself a sunken extension of the Lekagar's river delta. The deep black waters of the Lagoon host a variety of life and have inspired several stories throughout the history of the region, including the Trugor Noraya, also known as the Hatred of the Colorless Girl.

The region is notable for the numerous ruins along the shores of the lagoon from almost every time period. Regalti have tried for thousands of years to fully settle the region. The last major settlement here was the city of Vorem-Wreth, which was destroyed several hundred years ago during a war.

The Sunken Lands

In ancient times, the Lekagar was over 500km longer than it is today. A Tectonic rift affecting the southwest of the continent was draining magma underneath what is the modern day Sunken Lands. The River originally flowed directly into the Orgon Entar, or Eastern Ocean, but by roughly 2500 B.E., the river retreated to its present day location. This time period was capped by the eruption of Edagatsra, the boiling mountain, in 2429 B.E. This super eruption caused such a large ashfall that the Lekagar was completely black, and for several years the surface of the river was as thick as sludge. This is when the River got the name 'Lekagar' and the original name of the river was lost to time.

Ladgan Swamps and Keys

The old mouth of the River flowed through a region known as Ladgan, the remaining area is a collection of Swamps, fresh and saltwater, as well as numerous islands. Much of the freshwater life that lives here has been separated from the mainland for several thousand years and have already diversified into new subspecies.

Regalti History

Two Nations

In Ancient times, the Nation of Vefaria was on both sides of the river, but in 2428B.E., due to natural disaster and mismanagement, the north rebelled against the south, and the nation split in two, Vefaria was south of the river, and the new Empire of Araka was north of the river. For the next 2000 years, Araka and Vefaria were bitter rivals, only separated by the wide Lekagar River. East across the sunken lands was a third empire, Ladgan, that was neutral.

The Lekagar is a naturally wide and deep river, with only a handful of crossings. Travel along the river for thousands of years was accomplished by boat or by tying together floating grass. Located near the mouth of the river was the city of Vorem-wreth. Numerous wars over the centuries have been fought for control of this city, because control of this city means you control the river, which means you control Vefaria and Araka and the entire eastern half of the Kenerif Continent.

Civilizations around the region, 2400 B.E. - 400 B.E.

400B.E. to 270 B.E. - Tevari control and the War of Purges

In the year 400 B.E., both nations were subjugated by the Tevari imperium. Tevari built up the infrastructure of both nations, built a rail network, and built bridges across the Lekagar. In the year 271 B.E., the Tevari Emperor died with no heirs. This fractured the empire into hundreds of splinter factions, all fighting over control of the largest empire in Regalti history. This started the War of Purges, a devastating war of succession where each faction fought and wiped each other out until only a few remained.

When the War was nearing its midway point, one Tevari faction had subjugated most others, and they restarted their rule over the whole world. The other nations of the world each started declaring their independence. The nation of Vefaria and Araka joined together into one nation, using the many bridges the old empire built across the Lekagar, uniting into one people once again, and declaring war on Tevari.

The Fevarik front of the War of Purges was centered around the city of Vorem-Wreth, as control of that city would give control of the eastern half of the continent. The Tevari gained control of the city. They then started to destroy the many bridges to isolate the nations. A miscalculation from the Tevari cost them the war though. Their main airfield was on the Edagastra island to prevent attacks from the mainland. Edagastra was still an active volcano. It erupted once again, destroying their air force, which allowed Vefaria to claim victory.

Havoc of War by Captain Moore

Tevari was desperate for a victory, and started an aggressive bombing campaign to try to gain control. The city of Vorem-Wreth was completely destroyed during the war. Rather than rebuilding, Vefaria left the city abandoned and started the construction of new cities in other locations along the river. Nature quickly reclaimed the city in the centuries after this.

269 B.E. to 354 A.E. - Industrial buildup to the Exodus

After the war, Vefaria built many factory cities along the Lekagar, gaining an incredible amount of industrial capability in a short amount of time. The nation became a technological powerhouse and helped lead the way into space. This quick buildup heavily polluted the main river though, killing off countless plants and animals during this time.

Then the Exodus happened. Billions of Regalti left their homeworld. The great factory cities of Vefaria were abandoned, as was their use of the Lekagar. what few Regalti remained no longer had an impact on the river. It took several centuries, but animals that had lived in the tributaries moved to the main river, and the River once again was filled with life. Most bridges that cross the river fell into disrepair and there are only two rail bridges that cross the main river now. The River now no longer plays an important role in history and has been reclaimed by nature.

by Artbreeder

River Ecology

What follows are several selected species that live on the river, from each major group of animals, as well as several different plants::

Ichthyosaurs

Called Ekandra by the Regalti, these fish-like reptiles range across the entire length of the Lekagar. River ekandra are rather small, never reaching more than the length of a grown person, but occasionally one wanders from the sea that are much larger in proportion. Most species of egandra reproduce near the river's source and swim out to the lower elevations until they reach adulthood.

Rokofa

Known as the Sea Grazer or Sea Crawler, this large bird does little more than float in the rivers near the coast, feeding off of seaweed and water urchins. While its large beak looks dangerous, they are little threat to anyone and they have few natural predators. Its meat is considered a delicacy and it was nearly hunted to extinction by the Regalti several centuries ago. The population has greatly recovered since then and they are rarely hunted now.

Kesmodon

The Kesmodon is the apex predator of the forests and wetlands around the Lekagar. These supremely intelligent, wolf-like mammals regularly hunt for just about anything. They are known to observe and use the hunting tactics of other species of animal as well as the Regalti.

Giant Stillbird

This crocodilian bird waits motionless in the muddy waters near the shore with its mouth open, waiting for a chance to snap its jaws shut. The pattern of lines across its beak give the appearance of dead wood and due to refraction in the water, it is impossible to tell where it's mouth actually is.

Lizards and Flying Lizards

Hadkira is a general term for Lizard, and there are hundreds of different species that can be found all along the Lekagar. The largest Hadkira near the coast can grow to the size of a person and are quite dangerous. Most lizards on Collena have evolved several forms of flight and are actually rather tiny, from the size of your hand to the size of flies.

Ikandi

A type of Jinani or four legged bird. These herding animals eat seeds and small animals. They are able to swim and are often spotted near the shores of the Lekagar standing in the water with their heads below the surface, searching for food. They also peck at trees to get to the tasty sap underneath and are responsible for turning large areas of forests into grasslands around the river.

Bladed Caecilians

These extremely rare serpentine amphibians look similar to thorny vines. They live in the most humid parts of the Lekagar river system near the Void Lagoon. Their bodies are covered in rows of venomous spines that can kill just about any animal it comes into contact with. They hunt by just hanging there, for weeks or months, until sufficient prey comes along. Usually they hunt smaller animals. The moment it determines that it wants this next meal, it activates its many venom glands and immediately constricts and flails violently around, cutting into the skin of whatever creature it wants to catch. After being poisoned, the prey dies within several minutes, then the Bladed Caecilian reveals its head, and it slowly feasts on the carcass for several weeks.

Balloon Jelly

Discomedusae by Ernst Haeckel

Balloon Jellies float just above the waters of the Lekagar in large numbers, with their tentacles just touching the surface ensnaring anything foolish enough to fly or swim close by. These animals quickly clean up the Cloud Flower Super Blooms that clog the surface of the river.

Skyshells

Discomedusae by Ernst Haeckel

Skyshells are often seen floating several hundred meters above the river. They hunt by dropping to a lower level, lowering their tentacles into the river, grabbing anything it can, then quickly ascending back into the sky. Also of note, the largest Skyshell ever recorded is at the mouth of the Lekagar in the Void Lagoon.

Bataiva

These large soft bodied creatures create nets with their silk. They hang off of tree branches and use the nets to pick up floating seeds and flowers. They then take the seeds to their rather large nests inside Cloud Trees to cultivate into more food. These creatures are so intelligent they could be considered Sapient.

Argibugs

These six legged, wingless insects greatly resemble Silverfish on Earth. Arthropods are nearly extinct on Collena and play almost no role in the environment, their ecological roles being taken up by mollusks, worms, reptiles and other groups. But still, these little guys persist. They are often found in piles of dead leaves and wood near the riverbanks.

Cloud Flowers

These tiny sky plants usually play no role in the ecosystem of the river, until an unpredictable Super Bloom happens, then they fall from the sky by the trillions after dying, clogging the surface of the Lekagar and other bodies of water, choking all life. If it wasn't for animals like Balloon Jellies and the Bataiva, cloud flowers would have ended all life on the river long before Regalti nearly did it themselves through pollution.

floating grass

by Xiaoyong Chen

There are several species of floating grasses on the Lekagar that grow so thick in such dense patches that it can support the weight of a fully grown person. Ancient Regalti gathered the grass to make floating bridges to safely cross the Lekagar. In modern times the grass was nearly culled to extinction so it wouldn't clog the engines of riverboats.

Fish

Called Agi by the Regalti. There are numerous species of fish in the waters of the Lekagar, too many to describe in the space here. There are numerous varieties that run the spectrum of possible fish species, from bottom feeding algae eaters, to larger super predators that live off of hunting smaller prey, to everything inbetween